Returning to base
The Original Whirly
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
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I'm not sure how many hours I flew before I realised that radio use was simply about communication, but it was a lot. Before that I too found RT among the hardest things about flying - it's common, FNG, however illogical, and I know that from the point of view of student, PPL, and instructor, at one time or another. Even some instructors don't seem to know how to ask ATC if you can orbit to take photos of your mate's house; they mumble about "general handling" etc. But plain English works well. If you want to photograph a house in the circuit, ask, for permisiion to do just that. If you just want to bimble about, general handling in the area of xxxx ix a good way of putting it. I think carefully about turning off the radio; it's quite crowded up there...why not tell someone what you're doing; they won't bother you unless it's necessary. But to get back to this communication thing, these days I just relax, tell them who I am and where I am and what I want, and never mind the phraseology - and everyone seems happy. I'm still not sure why it took me so long to be able to do that. 
Hovering AND talking
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
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knobbyg writes:
"when learning to fly, RT is the most nervewracking bit"
Arrrrrrgh. Talking. In English. On a radio. How hard is that? Harder/scarier than not crashing in a crosswind?
When your workload is high and you're concentrating on flying the thing, then speech is the first thing that goes out of the window so finding RT difficult ain't surprising or unusual.
Cheers
Whirlygig
The Original Whirly
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whirlygig,
I definitely agree! And the trouble is, not a lot of ATCOs realise that. They see us hovering and it looks easy, so they don't realise that it's taking all our hands and feet, a lot of concentration, and that at the same time we're possibly coping with a crosswind (LOTS of foot work needed for hovering in a Xwind, for those who don't know), trying to work out where to go in an unfamiliar place, and making sure we don't blow over any light PFA-type aircraft or hit anything with this long tail which we can't actually see.
They direct you on some complicated rotary-only route into the airfield, and then give you taxi instructions as you're approaching and coming to a hover. That's OK...but they expect an answer too!!!! NOW, not when you've actually come to a hover and feel more under control!!!!! At least with a f/w aircraft they don't give you taxi instructions till you've landed the thing.
OK, so I'm exaggerating just a little bit as usual to make my point. 
But whirlygig has a good point, which is true more generally. When the workload is high, talking is just one more thing. And for low-ish hours pilots, f/w or rotary, the workload is often high. And to try to talk on the radio under those circumstances may be just one thing too much. And if you don't do it well, and feel an idiot, or the controller gets annoyed, it becomes harder the next time...and so on........
I definitely agree! And the trouble is, not a lot of ATCOs realise that. They see us hovering and it looks easy, so they don't realise that it's taking all our hands and feet, a lot of concentration, and that at the same time we're possibly coping with a crosswind (LOTS of foot work needed for hovering in a Xwind, for those who don't know), trying to work out where to go in an unfamiliar place, and making sure we don't blow over any light PFA-type aircraft or hit anything with this long tail which we can't actually see.
They direct you on some complicated rotary-only route into the airfield, and then give you taxi instructions as you're approaching and coming to a hover. That's OK...but they expect an answer too!!!! NOW, not when you've actually come to a hover and feel more under control!!!!! At least with a f/w aircraft they don't give you taxi instructions till you've landed the thing.OK, so I'm exaggerating just a little bit as usual to make my point.
But whirlygig has a good point, which is true more generally. When the workload is high, talking is just one more thing. And for low-ish hours pilots, f/w or rotary, the workload is often high. And to try to talk on the radio under those circumstances may be just one thing too much. And if you don't do it well, and feel an idiot, or the controller gets annoyed, it becomes harder the next time...and so on........
